Me and You and Everyone We Know develops a steady balance between both the potential depth of various connections between characters and the meticulously constructed barriers that alienate them from one another. Every character in the film experiences some degree of loneliness, whether it be subtle or overwhelming, while at the same time relying heavily on boundaries that offer privacy and comfort.
The struggle between connections and boundaries develops into a significant motif throughout the film, which culminates in the use of intermediaries. In order for these desperate characters to maneuver through their tormenting insecurities they seek out some sort of vehicle to express themselves while somehow maintaining emotional security, if not total anonymity. Perhaps the most obvious example of this is Nancy’s insistence that Christine mail her the tape of her artwork rather than simply handing it directly to Nancy. Other examples abound, though, including the sexual descriptions left behind by the co-worker and Peter being blindfolded while receiving oral sex.
While this motif is apparent, it is only framed properly with the inclusion of the main character, Christine. Not only is Christine vital to the overall trajectory of the film as the main character, she helps shape the other characters with her own ignorance of inhibitions and sincerity. Christine constantly, albeit innocently, tests other characters’ boundaries, such as the tape with Nancy, the picture frame with Pam, or getting into Richard’s car without permission
1 comment:
You're onto something interesting - that is, the contradictions July presents between yearning for connection and retreating within boundaries. Your idea about surrogates seems right on the money. Just think you need to sharpen your thesis and get really clear about your argument (for example, the thesis statement is vague: "develops a steady balance between [depth and barriers]" is not as strong as, say, "her characters' reliance upon surrogates, barriers and covers suggests that July is asserting _____.").
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